Liquid cooler



Sept. 11, 1934. F, w MOQRE 1,973,291

LIQUID COOLER Filed June 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11, 1934. w M 1,973,291

LIQUID COOLER Filed June 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIII.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,973,291 LIQUID COOLER Frank W. Moore, Lennon, Mich. Application June 20, 1933, Serial No. 676,741 9 Claims. 01. 257- 14) This invention relates to an improved liquid cooler'and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which will efiectually retain liquid carried in a can utilized with the .1 device at a low temperature.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a liquid cooler utilizing both water and air for the cooling operation and being adapted to cool: the liquid from both the interior and exterior of I the can carrying said liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid cooler which will be light in weight, and therefore easily portable so that a liquid to be cooled, such as for instance milk, may be cooled in close proximity to the source of production.

' A further object of the invention is toprovide a liquid cooler which may be utilized with an ordinary milk shipping can without the necessity of making alterations in said can, the device being readily removable from one can and insertible into another can with the utilization of a minimum amount of effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid cooler employing dual means for cooling:

the liquid carried in the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the liquid motor employed will effectually agitate the liquid carried in the container so that uniform cooling of said liquid may be efiected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liquid cooler employing a spray which is adapted to direct cold water against the wall of the container carrying the liquid to be cooled so that said wall may be effectually cooled irrespec-' tive of whether said container be partially submerged in a body of water or mounted clear of the body of water.

A still further object of the invention is provide a liquid cooler which will be rugged and highly durable in construction and highly efiicient in use, and wherein the parts employed will.

be of such nature that if replacement should be necessary, such replacement may be made with the utmost facility.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will per- ;mit the passage of a relatively largevolume of air over and into the liquid in the container.

Other and incidental objects of the invention,

-not hereinbefore enumerated, will be apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing my device installed on a milk can,

Figure-Zis a horizontal sectional view taken' on the line 2-2of Figure l and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view takenon the line 3-3 of Figure l and looking in the di-- rection indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to thel'accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a container which is preferably the usual milk can used for shipping milk. The can is provided at its upper end with a neck 2 terminating in an outwardly flared mouth 3.

My improved liquid cooler includes a frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 4. The frame comprises a circular top wall 5 which is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the container 1 at its greatest portion, the diameter of said top wall being, in any event, of greater diameter than the upper extremity of the mouth 3. The top wall 5 is formed with radial reenforcing beads 5'. As seen at 6 in Figure 1, the outer edge of the top wall 5 is turned downwardly to define a vertical annular wall '7' which terminates at its lower end in a bead 8 which provides a smooth lower edge for said wall. Carried by the frame 4 and disposed adjacent the wall 7 and the outer margin of the top wall 5 is a spray pipe 9 which is circular in cross section and extends throughout the circumference of the frame. The spray pipe is provided with discharge openings l0'which are arranged in a circumferentially disposed closely spaced series, and,'as seen in Figure 1, the openings are directed slightly inwardly so that a liquid carried in the pipe and passing through said openings will be directed. toward the curved portion of the container 1 toflow uniformly down theouter wall thereof.

Soldered, welded,'or otherwise secured to the top wall 5 is a cylindrical tube 11 which is provided medially of its height with an outwardly projecting rib 12 which is hemispherical in cross. section. Formed in the wall of the tube 11 at the rib and projecting slightly thereabove is a series of circumferentially disposed spaced intake openings 13. As best seen in Figure 1, when the device is in position in a can, the rib 12 will engage the neck of the container at the junction of said neck, and the mouth 3 so that the frame will be efiectually mounted in position within the neck of the container. The'tube 11 is slightly spaced from the neck 2 so that ready insertion of the tube within the neck may be eifected.

Mounted concentrically with respect to the tube 11 and opening through the top wall 5 is a cylindrical air tube 14 which is provided with an outwardly directed flange 15, which flange 15 is soldered or otherwise secured to the upper surface otthe margin of the top wall 5. The air tube 14 is of. a length slightly greater than that of the tube 11 so that said tubes 11 and 14 have their lower end edges terminating in a common horizontal plane. The tubes 11 and 14 will cooperate to form an intake air jacket be: tween said tubes and a discharge flue within the air tube 14. V

Mounted in parallel spaced relation to the frame 4 and having its axis common with the axis of the circular top wall 5 is a liquid motor which is indicated in general by the numeral 16. The motor comprises a casing 17 which is closed at its upper surface by a top wall 18. The motor is supported in parallel spaced relation above the frame by means of preferably three legs 19 which may be cast integral with the casing 17 or may be bolted thereto. Screws'ZO, extendlngthrough the top wall 5 of the frame and into said legs 19 serve rigidly to connect the casingwith the frame. Formed on the bottom 1: wall of the frame 17 is a bearing 21 which ex-- tends upwardly throughout substantially half the height ofthe casing 17; The rotor of the liquid motor is indicated in general by the numeral '22 and is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 23 which is journaled in the bearing 21 of the casing. The rotoris provided-with a series of radially extending plates 24 which terminate in arcuateend portions 25. The motor is seicured to the shaft 23 by means of a set screw 26, and the plates of said rotor are of a height to extend throughout the major portion of the height'of'the casing 17. Formed on the casing 1.7 and disposed tangentially thereto is an in-- take pipe 27 which. has a restricted nozzle 28 screwed therein. The intake pipe 2'7 is threaded to receive the end portion of a hose 29 which may,

be a common garden hose, if desired. Arranged tangentially of the casing 17 and disposed at right angles with respect to the intake pipe 2'7 is a 1 discharge pipe 30*which has a sleeve 31 screwed therein. The sleeve 31 is adapted to receive the end portion of a length of a sectional hose 32,

the other end of said hose being adapted to connect with the pipe 9 through the top wall 5 of ;the frame i. 'A copper tube may be utilized in lieu of the hose, if desired.

' Fixed to the shaft 23 near its lowerend is a cooling fan 33 which is formed with a number of blades 34:. The cooling fan isrllsposed to rotate: freely withinthe air tube 1%, near its upper end, with the portions of the blades of said fan disposed in close spaced relation to the wall of said tube 14. As best seen in Figure 1, the lower end of the shaft 23 is provided with an internally threaded bore 35 and screwed into said bore is the upper end of a relatively long stern 36 which is adapted, in operation, to extend downwardly and axially of the container 1."

Carried at the lower end of the stem 36 is an qa'gitator 37 having preferably two blades.

In use, after the device has been installed upon a containensuch as the container 1, which is full of a liquid, andthe hose has been connected, the water is turned on and said water will flow through the nozzle 28 against the end portions 25 of the plates 24 of the rotor, thus causing rotation of said rotor and consequent rotation of the cooling fan 33 and agitator 37. The water will pass through the hose section 32 into the pipe 9 and will be passed through the discharge open ings 10 thereof, and will flow downwardly against the wall of the container 1 for cooling the exterior thereof. Rotation of the fan, at the same time, will draw air largely through the wall of water descending throughthe' discharge openings 10, through the openings 13 and through the jacket defined between the tubes 11 and 14 into the container to circulate above the contents thereof. As

V moist so that a much more thorough cooling operation will beeifected. The cooling fan 33 will -maintain acirculation of the moist air above the liquid so that a continual flow of air will pass into the container. Simultaneously with the rotation of the fan, the agitator will maintain the liquid inthe container in circulation'sothat said liquid will beauniformly. cooled. It will be seen that the single flow of water passing into the casing 1'7 serves a dual function in'that it not only rotates the rotor of the motor 16 but also provides a supply of water forthe pipe 10 for cooling the" exterior of the'container. Therefore, the'contain er contents will be effectually cooled interiorly and from the exterior. I

The only part of my device which comes in contact with the liquid in the container is the agita tor stem 36 with'the'agitator 3*l'thereon. The stem andagitator are readily removable from the shaft 23 so that thorough sterilization of said stem and agitator may be effected before inserting into the container.. The entire device is of) such construction, furthermore, that it may be readily sterilizedwhen desired. In view of 'the' ready por-. tabilityof the device it may be very easily moved from one container to another so that the con--- tents of a number of containers may be cooled with theuse-of but a single machine. Furthermore, the machine may be utilized immediately after the containerhas been filledwith liquid so that the liquid will be retained in a highly sanitary condition andwill not be permitted to absorb odors within the building.

, If desired, the water flowing from the discharge openings 10 may pass into a trough and be pumped back into the source of supply to be used again in the cooling'toperation so that waste of water will not take place.

a While I have shown the frame and motor casing as being separate elements, it should be understood that they may be cast as a single piece of material, if desired. It should also be. understood that, if desired, all parts, with the exception of the fan and rotor, may be cast as a single unit. I

It is believed that I have provided a device of this character which will be highly efficient, easily transportable from place to place, and highly durable so that itm'ay be used over long periods of time without attention. 1

Having thus described my invention, .1 claim:

1. A liquid cooler including a frame adapted to be supported by a container, liquid diffusing means carried by the frame and adapted for spreading a liquid and cooling the exterior of the container, liquid operable 'means carried by the frame and adapted for agitating aliquid with in the'contai'ner and simultaneously circulating air above said liquid for cooling "the same,- and lit means for supplying liquid to said liquid diffusing means and said second-mentioned means.

2. A liquid cooler including a frame, a pipe carried by the frame and having discharge openings, a tube carried by the frame and adapted to engage-in theneck of a container for supporting the frame above the container, a liquid motor carried above the frame, and rotatable means carried by the liquid motor for agitating a liquid in the container and simultaneously creating a movement of air within the container about said liquid, said rotatable means and said pipe cooperating for effectually cooling the liquid within the container.

3. A liquid cooler including a frame, a pipe carried by the frame and having discharge openings, a tube carried by the frame and having a rib engageable with the neck of a container for supporting the frame above said container, an air tube carried by said frame concentrically with said first-mentioned tube, a liquid motor carried by the frame and having a shaft, a cooling fan carried by the shaft within the tube, an agitator stem carried by the shaft, an agitator carried by said stem, said agitator and fan being simultaneously rotatable by movement of the motor, and a source of liquid supply connected to the motor, movement of said fan by rotation of the motor efiecting the cooling operation within the container and water led to the pipe from the motor and flowing from the discharge openings cooling the exterior of the container.

4. A liquid cooler including a frame, a pipe carried by the frame and having discharge openings, a tube carried by the frame and having a rib provided with openings, said rib being adapted to removably engage within the neck of a container, an air tube carried by the frame concentrically of said first-mentioned tube, said tubes cooperating to define a jacket, a liquid motor disposed above the frame and having a shaft, a cooling fan carried by said shaft and disposed within the air tube, means connecting the motor with the pipe, and a source of liquid supply connected to the motor, the flow from said supply rotating the motor and the fan whereby the interior of the container will be cooled, and

the supply of water flowing through said first-- mentioned means to the pipe and through the discharge openings thereof will cool the exterior of the container.

5. A liquid cooler including a frame having a circular top wall, a pipe carried by the topwall therebeneath and being formed with discharge openings, a tube carried by the frame and secured to the top wall concentrically thereof, said tube having a rib adapted removably to engage in the neck of a container, an air tube mounted on the frame and opening through the top wall, said air tube cooperating with the first-mentioned tube to provide a jacket, a liquid motor mounted above the air tube axially thereof and having a casing, a rotor rotatable in the casing, a shaft carried by the rotor and projecting into the air tube, a cooling fan carried by the shaft within the tube, means connecting the motor with the pipe, and a source of water supply for the motor, the flow of water from said supply rotating the rotor and fan for cooling the interior of the container and the flow passing through said means for discharge from the discharge openings of the pipe simultaneously cooling the exterior of the container.

6. A liquid cooler including a frame having a circular top wall, a pipe carried by the frame downwardly and slightly inwardlydisposed' discharge openings, a tube carried on the frame and secured to the top wall axially thereof, said tube being provided with a rib and a series of openings, said rib being adapted for removably mount-. ing the frame in the neck ofv a container, an airt tube carried by the frame and opening through the top wall thereof concentrically of the firstrnentioned tube to define a jacket, a liquid motor carried by the frame in spaced relation above the top wall thereof, a shaft carried by the motor, a cooling fan carried by the shaft and rotatably mounted within the air tube, a hose section connecting the pipe with the motor, and means connecting the motor to a source of supply, the motor being rotatable by the source of supply for rotating the cooling fan and drawing air through the openings in said first-mentioned tube through a wall of falling water flowing from the discharge openings against the container whereby cooling of a liquid within the container may be effected, said wall of water flowing against the container for cooling the exterior of said container and aiding in the cooling of the liquid carried therein.

'7. A liquid cooler including a frame having a circular top wall provided with reenforcing ribs, a spray pipe carried by the frame beneath the wall and provided with downwardly and inwardly directed discharge openings, a tube carried by the frame and having an outwardly projecting rib adapted to removably engage in the neck of a container, an air tube mounted concentrically on the frame within the first-mentioned tube and opening through the top wall thereof to provide a discharge flue, a fluid motor mounted on the frame in spaced relation thereabove and axially of said frame, a rotor carried by the motor, a shaft, a cooling fan on the shaft and rotatable Within the air tube, a hose section conmeeting the motor with the spray pipe, and means adapted for connecting the motor to a supply source, flow of water through said means being adaptedfor diffusing from thespray pipe aboutthe exterior of the container and] simultaneously rotating the rotor and fan for drawing air through the diffusing water into the container for cooling the interior thereof simultaneously with the cooling of the exterior.

8. A liquid container including a frame, a tube carried by the frame and adapted for mounting the frame in the neck of a container, means carried by the frame for diffusing the water against the exterior of the container, a fluid motor carried by the frame thereabove and comprising a casing, a rotor rotatable in the casing, a shaft rotatable by said rotor, a cooling fan carried by the shaft within the tube, means connecting said casing with the water diffusing means, and means connecting the casing to a source of water supply, the flow of water through said second-mentioned means being adapted for rotating the rotor and the fan for circulating air for cooling a liquid carried in the container, and simultaneously the flow of water being adapted to pass into the water diffusing means for cooling the liquid from the exterior of the container.

9. A liquid cooler including a frame, water diffusing means carried thereby, means carried by the frame and adapted to removably mount said frame in the neck of a container, a fluid motor mounted on the frame and comprising a casing formed with inlet and discharge pipes, a rotor rotatable in the casing and having blades formed with curved end portions, a hose section beneath the top wall and being providedwith connecting said discharge pipe with the water" difiusing means, means connected with the inlet pipe and adapted for permitting a flow of Water into the casing against the curved portions for.

rotating the rotor, and a cooling fan carried by the motor and adapted to cooperate with said mounting means for cooling the interior of the container, the flow of water from the dischargev pipe entering the water diffusing means and be? J FRANK W. MOORE. [L.S.] 

